Wild Lectionary: Dry Seed and Soil

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them;

Psalm 146:5-6

By Juleta Severson-Baker

Psalm 146

Everyone who turns around to look for God is dancing

Every word spoken of God’s love is a poem

Every name pinned on the mystery of God is a metaphor

I will not put my trust in the parts of the wholeI will praise the whole

On the one who calls follow me! while ignoring the cry of a child
I call for God’s justice

The force that created the dry seed and the soil and the rain
That is my God

On the one who stands behind armies and strikes down enemies
I call for God’s justice

I will not put my trust in the parts of the wholeI will praise the whole

The force that lengthens dancers’ muscles and teaches babies to smile
That is my God

On the one who gets rich by stealing from tomorrow’s children
I call for God’s justice

The force that whispers comfort to despairing souls
That is my God

I will not put my trust in the parts of the wholeI will praise the whole

Juleta Severson-Baker a Canadian Anglican and poet was invited by the Calgary Wisdom Centre on Treaty 7 territory to refashion some prayers of the Anglican tradition. This reimagining of Psalm 146 is published in Every Word Spoken (Leaf Press, 2011) a chapbook inspired by Jewish feminist poet Marcia Falk’s The Book of Blessings (Beacon, 1999). Severson-Baker says this work grounded in a contemporary Canadian context is intended to “capture the essence of why we reach into the immensity we call God,” and “open a way of speaking that is more about listening.”

Vancouver born artist Tia McLennan says: My approach to art has several points of entry; from more traditional landscapes to abstract worlds and ‘environments’ that riff on natural forms and explore tensions and relations between micro and macroscopic worlds, from realistic portraiture to the strange creatures and oddities found in my sketchbook.

Wild Lectionary, a weekly reflection on land, creation and environmental justice themes in the texts of the revised common lectionary, is curated by Laurel Dykstra, gathering priest of Salal + Cedar, Coast Salish Territories.

Above: “Basically, we wanted to be shit-disturbers in the church. We wanted to appeal to the younger generation who were disappointed with older folks who get really upset when you take the Lord’s name in vain, but don’t get upset when a nation drops bombs on another killing innocent civilians.”–Aiden Enns